Treatment of women in Islam

Submitted by Sep (Malaysia), Feb 22, 2010 at 20:35

I have been living in Malaysia - a Muslim country for nearly 40 years now. Even so Malaysia is not an extremist country like Indonesia, Pakistan or Bangladesh, I could still see the injustice which occurs to women in Malaysia. Since Malaysia's independence (from British) in 1957, Muslims have been divided into two groups - the religious fanatics, and the Malays (less extreme about their Islam). The Malays have their own culture, heritage and way of doing things, which they have learnt and borrowed from other races like Chinese, Hindus, Indonesians and many more who came to live in Malaya since 11th Century. But since 1990s, extremism have started to grow. I have actually seen a society change from creative and mild-mannered society to an extreme, violence and close-minded society which is Muslim society today in Malaysia. I have seen Muslims destroy over 100 Hindu temples and burnt five churches. I have also seen them demonstrate in the streets against Hindus and Chinese, calling them names and as animals while the Government continue to pretend nothing was wrong. Status of women did not fair much better either. Islam is a men-world, when men decide whether or not something is right or wrong, just as Muhammad did in his time. Women have become like "products" - to be brought or sold at whim of men, and I have seen these changes myself, in Malaysia. Lately, a women's group - called Sisters in Islam (if not mistaken) have formed by educated women in Malaysia to fight for their rights, and guess what - it is considered as an act of "fighting against" the authority of men and it is considered against Islam (even so, it is still a legal group). Even so the situation in Malaysia have not worsen as much as in Indonesia or other neighboring countries, I feel it is merely matter of time before some self-centred, egomaniac push themselves about others (women and non-Muslims alike) in name of Islam, as did Muhammad.

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